How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Stretched out on the grass,
a boy and a girl.
Savoring their oranges,
giving their kisses like waves exchanging foam.
Stretched out on the beach,
a boy and a girl.
Savoring their limes,
giving their kisses like clouds exchanging foam.
Stretched out underground,
a boy and a girl.
Saying nothing, never kissing,
giving silence for silence.
Lyrics submitted by mem1019
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More Featured Meanings
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
“Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.
Sunglasses at Night
Corey Hart
Corey Hart
In the 1980s, sunglasses were a common fashion for people who wanted to adopt a "tough guy" persona (note all the cop shows from that era -- Simon & Simon, Miami Vice, etc. -- where the lead characters wore shades). So I think this song is about a guy who wears shades as a way of hiding his insecurity after learning that his girlfriend is cheating on him. He's trying to pretend that he's a "tough guy" to hide the fact that his girlfriend's affair is disturbing him.
The first time I heard this song, it was performed live by an amazing Candian choir called Kokopelli. Before they sang, a member of the group came up and explained it. He said it was about a boy and a girl, in love as children, then adults, and the third verse was after they had died and been buried. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the last verse though- it has no words, but is just hummed. The man explaining it told us to listen closely to the last part, because you could hear that their story wasn't over, and their love goes on, even if we can't see it.
That is an amazing interpretation... hmmm... :)
Though I think the comments above are plausible interpretations, I do not think the true love idea captures the complete meaning behind the lyrics. Here is how I would interpret this piece:
Once their love was young, bright, warm, and sweet, like oranges. Later, their love and their kisses have become sour, like limes. Finally, there are no kisses, just the silence of two souls who have drifted apart "giving silence for silence." This, to me, would be a more accurate interpretation of the meaning behind the lyrics. The music is also very telling to this interpretation as well.
I would have to agree with you chickenrace... Especially with the Grass to Beach to Underground... Grass is fresh and green... The Beach has the tide come in an out...and Underground is dead/soil... It's the progression of a relationship to new, to wavering, to gone. So glorious is this song.
This song means true love. These young ones lied on the grass toghether, kissing. They lied on the beach together, kissing. And they died together, but still loving each other.
I created an account specifically to comment on this song. A Boy and a Girl is beautiful, touching, and is the most amazing song I've ever heard. The chord structures are so gorgeous; the first time I heard it performed by a regional chorus in Pennsylvania, it brought me to tears. Together, the music and lyrics to this song make up a phenomenal song.
A Boy and a Girl is just what symphodude said. It goes from major to minor when the words talk about them dying... and the song ends in major, a happy ending; they died together and still love each other.
ehbishh, which regional chorus did you hear in Pennsylvania, and what year? I have a lot of friends who were in Regionals, and I'm pretty sure they did this song.<br /> <br /> I love this piece. I was so excited to hear that we were doing this for our Vocal Ensemble at school--the chordal arrangements are so unorthodox and beautiful. Eric Whitacre is truly a genius.
I heard this song one time and fell completely in love with it. The essence of the lyrics and the cascading energies of the choral voice leave me completely spellbound every time I play it.
That being said...my other reason for posting is to give my interpretation of the song up for consideration;
My experience being alive these short 32 yrs has shown to me that I am a duelistic creature....both feeling ("feminine") as well as thinking ("masculine"). Although I too love the "true love" interpretation of the song best, I am also a practical person. I am finding a true love relationship with myself...and it feels so strange, but right. Maybe then i'll be ready to meet my soulmate...lol - thanks everyone for posting their beautiful thoughts. I joined this site just so I could so thank you and post...and then I got distracted with my passion for this song! Hope everyone is having a fantastic day. Live. Love. BE. -jovh
I thought the second verse said "Savoring their lives"? No?
Okay I made an account just to comment on the song.
I think there is something really missing without the music, though the poem is fantastic on its own. I agree that it's about their love, but the way the music is written is kind of strange. The first two verses have a sort of "matter of fact" feeling to them, for the most part, but also a lot of really beautiful parts (like the "waves... and clouds...."). I think this is indicative of the idea that love is both commonplace and beautiful.
The third verse is what really gives me chills. The lyrics sound sad on their own, but when you listen to the music it becomes apparent that it isn't a sad verse. If anything, its solemn and beautiful. Whitacre is a genius because the go-to emotion would be "oh look they died how sad," but that's not what he went for; he went for "look at how beautiful it was that they loved," and oh my gosh he pulls it off so well.
Also, my personal take on the final verse without words is that it's them in the afterlife, but that might be too superficial. It could also show that their love lives on even after their death.
My goodness I love this song.
This song is about two lovers who enjoy each others company up until death and even then they are still by each others' side. They are in each others company both as wordly beings and in what life has to offer after.